Anthony Hamilton

Anthony Hamilton is a heavyweight mixed martial artist from Washington state who brought a strong wrestling foundation to professional fighting. Originally trained in wrestling and football, earning NJCAA All-American honors at Highline College, Hamilton compiled an undefeated amateur record before turning pro in 2010. He climbed the regional ladder methodically, capturing the Maximum Fighting Championship heavyweight title in October 2013 and successfully defending it once, establishing himself as a legitimate regional heavyweight contender.

Hamilton signed with the UFC in early 2014, but his octagon tenure proved a difficult struggle against the promotion's elite. While he posted wins over Ruan Potts and Daniel Omielańczuk, he suffered losses to Todd Duffee, Shamil Abdurakhimov, Daniel Spitz, and Francis Ngannou. His most spectacular performance came against Damian Grabowski in July 2016, when he earned a knockout in just 14 seconds - the fourth-fastest in UFC heavyweight history. However, he could not build momentum, and four consecutive losses led to his release from the promotion in late 2017.

As a fighter, Hamilton demonstrates a wrestling-heavy approach with solid clinch exchanges and ground engagement. He maintains respectable striking defense at 46% and has landed significant strikes from all positions, but he was often caught by the superior hand speed and power of elite heavyweights, particularly early in fights. After stepping away from the UFC, Hamilton returned to the regional circuit in 2018 and has continued to compete, compiling a 3-1 record outside the Las Vegas-based promotion and later pursuing a heavyweight title shot on the regional stage.